Important skill: letting people be disappointed without rushing to rescue or explain. You can be kind — without over-functioning. You can care — without contorting yourself. You can choose your own capacity — and still be a good person. Discomfort …
The Most Underrated Life Skill: Pausing Before You React
Underrated life skill: pausing long enough to ask, “Is this actually worth my energy?” Not every comment needs a response. Not every trigger needs a reaction. Not every invitation deserves a yes. Sometimes the most regulated, self-respecting choice is to …
What the Taylor Swift and Blake Lively Texts Teach Us About Friendship and Conflict
As a psychotherapist, I broke down the Taylor Swift–Blake Lively texts for body+soul.com.au, revealing what they got right (vulnerable check-ins!), what could’ve been better (earlier reciprocity), and lessons for us all. Conflict avoidant? Their bold honesty shows that naming the …
The Most Underrated Form of Self-Care: Giving Yourself Extra Time
One of the most underrated forms of self-care is giving yourself extra time to get places. An extra 5 minutes changes the entire experience and helps your nervous system move out of fight-or-flight and into regulation. — Dr Leah Katz …
Walking: Your Body’s Built-In Way to Process Emotions
Walking doesn’t just clear your head — it helps your brain process. Each step activates both sides of the body, and in turn, both hemispheres of the brain. This gentle rhythm — left, right, left, right — mimics the bilateral …
Sometimes We Don’t Need Advice — We Just Need to Be Heard
“Advice can often leave me feeling worse, even if it is well-intentioned. I just want to be heard and feel understood, even if it doesn’t make sense to the other person.” “Sometimes what helps most isn’t advice — it’s someone …
When the Avoidant Part Takes Over: It’s Protection, Not Punishment
When the avoidant part takes over, it’s because closeness feels unsafe. This part learned to rely on itself. So it pulls back, shuts down, stays busy — not to punish, but to protect. Pressure doesn’t soften it. Gentleness, curiosity and …
When the Anxious Part Takes Over
When the anxious part takes over, it’s because something feels at risk. This part fears disconnection. So it watches, worries, reaches — not to control, but to protect. Reassurance doesn’t calm it. Presence does. When you stay with this part, …
When You Feel Unsafe, a Part Steps In
When you feel unsafe, a part steps in. Automatically. Instinctively. Intelligently. That part is a strategy your system learned. Listening to this part brings relief. Fighting it creates more tension. In parts work, we don’t ask, “How do I stop …
The Part of You That Rushes Is Trying to Keep You Safe
The part of you that rushes is trying to keep you safe. The part that reacts is not the problem. It learned this strategy a long time ago. No part needs fixing. They need understanding and protection. When your nervous …